Garment button and buttonhole attachment



Nov. 10, 1936. w, STEELE A 2,060,643

GARMENT BUTTON AND BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 12, 1935 INVENTOR J'. 14 .S/ee/e,

ATTORN EY 5; 1,989,534, dated January 29, 1935, and also in my Patented Nov. 10, 1936 PATENT OFFICE GARMENT BUTTON AND BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT v James W. Steele, Kansas City, Mo.

Application August 12, 1935, Serial No. 35,714

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to accessories designed to be used in connection with the buttons and buttonholes of garments, for the purpose of holding the buttons and buttonholes in matched relation, but in an unbuttoned or only partly buttoned state.

Accordingly it is a purpose of the invention to provide a device of an extremely simple and inexpensive character which will function for holding the buttons and buttonholes of garments in such matched and unbuttoned relation, and also act as an efficient fastening means for matched or registered buttonholes where such function may prove desirable as a temporary fastening means.

It is a further object of the improvements to provide a device of the character indicated which is adapted to serve not only as a neckband or collar fastening, but also as a supporting element in engagement with the collar folds at the meeting ends of a collar.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating practical and useful forms of embodiment of the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be both novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating one form of the improved device;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same in relation to the button and buttonhole pleats of a garment and illustrating the operative position of the device;

Figures 3' and 4 are perspective views of the collar portion of a shirt, and showing the different positions of the device as it is applied in operative position;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the device applied to the neckband of a shirt;--while Figure 5A shows a modification of said use of the device;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the device employed as a fastening for the cuff of a shirt;

Figure 7 is plan view showing a slightly modified form of the device;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing still another modified form; and I Figure 9 is a perspective view of the collar portion of a shirt, and illustrating the use of the modification shown in Figure 8.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide further features of improvement in the character of devices illustrated in my Patent No.

copending application Serial No. 758,993 filed December 24, 1934 (the present application being a continuation-so far as common subject-matter is involved-of said copending application) ,the said devices all functioning as a convenient garment attachment or accessory for holding the button and button-hole strips in properly alined relation and in either an unbuttoned or only partly buttoned condition.

Referring now to the said drawing in detail, an efficient form of the device is illustrated as comprising an oblong strip ID of suitable material, such as fiber board or pressboard, of a strong and yet reasonably flexible character, the strip being tapered and rounded at both ends, and also provided with an elongated opening l2. This opening also is tapered toward both ends as shown, and may also be formed, if desired, with internal projections M for the purpose of pro"- ducing rounded recesses H3 at the ends of the opening, as illustrated in Figure 7.

Various modes of use of the device are illustrated in the views shown in Figures 2 to 6.

In Figure 2 the device is shown inserted through one of the buttonholes l6 of the buttonhole strip II of a garment, and with one end of the opening I2 of the device forked over the button I8 and in engagement with the shank or attaching threads 20 of the butt0n,thus enabling the button to be drawn part way through the buttonhole, or into partly buttoned relation as shown.

In this connection it is to be observed that the length of the terminal portion of the strip l0 (beyond the end of the opening I2) is sufficient for preventing the completion of the butto-ning operation; and the width of said strip is also sufficient for maintaining shouldered engagement with the ends of the buttonhole l6, for the purpose of holding the parts in the desired or partlybuttoned relation.

In Figures 3 and 4 the operation isillustrated with relation to the meeting ends of a collar IS, the device being operated in a similar fashion, i. e., for drawing the button 2| partly through the buttonhole 23, after which the other or free end of the device is turned up underneath the outer fold of the collar into supporting engagement with the fold portion 22 of the collar, thus serving as a means for aiding in holding the collar in its proper position or shape, as illustrated in Figure 4.

- Figure 5 shows the device operated as a flexible or foldable fastening element adapted to secure together the meeting ends of the neckband 24 of a shirt. For this purpose one half of the strip in is simply bent or coiled, and one end of the strip thrust through the opening l2 of the strip, after which the device is applied, clip-fashion, over the upper edges of the neckband to clasp together the meeting ends thereof while inserting the other end of the strip through the registered buttonholes 25, as illustrated.

Figure 6 illustrates the use of the device as a fastening for the buttonholes 26 of a folded cuff 21, the operation being similar to that just described in connection with Figure 5, with the exception that both ends of the strip II] are coiled for projecting them through the opening l2-- after insertion through the buttonholes 26, said coiled ends thus functioning as buttons for said buttonholes at the outer sides of both ends of the cuff.

A slightly different method of applying the device to the neckband 24 of a shirt is illustrated in Figure 5A,being a modification of the mode of application which has been shown in Figure 5. In this instance, the device is simply thrust through the buttonholes of both ends of the neckband 24, and then, with one end of the strip I!) left projecting upward in front of the neckband, the other end of said strip is brought forward, forked over said projecting end, and then folded down flat against the front buttonhole 25, as shown.

This serves to securely hold the parts in the relation illustrated, and also permits easy detachment of the device by simply lifting the front end portion of the strip and then drawing it out of the buttonholes 25.

The form of the device illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 comprises a fork 10' with the recess I2 for insertion through the buttonhole 23 of a collar into forked engagement with the button 2I,--

leaving the latter in only partly projecting relation. The device further comprises suitably formed extensions H and II adapted to serve as retaining and reinforcing means projecting into engagement with the fold portion 22 of the collar, thereby aiding in supporting and holding the latter in its proper shape and position as shown in Figure 9.

The manner of using the devices will be readily understood from the foregoing, in the light of the drawing; and it may be pointed out that in the case of the method of use illustrated in Figure 2, a series of the devices are employed for preserving the proper alinement of the button and buttonhole pleats of the garment. Obviously either end of the strip l0 may be engaged with the button, and the elongated terminal portion of the strip I0 (which has been inserted through the buttonhole) shields the corresponding side of the button, and so keeps the buttonhole from catching under that side of the button, even though the button might be pulled all the way through the buttonhole,-thus ensuring that the parts will be left in only partly buttoned relation.

Tapering and pointing the ends of the strip l0 also facilitates the use of the device, in the insertion of either of the forms thereof through the buttonholes.

Another feature of advantage in connection with the use of the improved device is the fact that the first operation of attaching it to a button may be attended to by the operator who irons the collar or neckband, at which time it is easier to raise the buttonhole while the starched garment is still warm, thanlater.

As regards the use of the device for the collar or neckband, such operation is also easier with a little practice to carry out than that of employing the common forms of buttons for this purpose, as generally followed. As a general proposition, moreover, it may be pointed out that, besides being more convenient to attach as well as to remove from the buttonholes, the use of the improved device is also less likely to cause injury to the buttonholes than is the case with the prevailing use of buttons for the same purpose. Again it is found that the device, when used as a neckband or cuff fastening, does not readily fall out, and it may therefore even serve in an emergency as an efficient cuff fastening in place of the regular button.

It is also found that the use of the device as illustrated in Figures 4 and 9 serves a very practical function in helping to reinforce the collar and hold it in its proper shape.

The improved accessory is particularly designed for use in the manner illustrated in connection with the metal clasp service shown and described in the aforesaid copending application.

While I have herein shown and described what I have found to represent practical and efficient forms of embodiment of the several improved features of my invention, I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make whatever changes or modifications may fairly be deemed to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1- 1. An accessory device for holding garment buttons and buttonholes in matched and unbuttoned relation, comprising an elongated strip of flexible material insertable through the buttonhole and provided with an elongated opening therein adapted to be looped over the button, said opening terminating a distance from the end of the strip sufficient to prevent pulling of the button entirely through the buttonhole.

2. An accessory device for holding garment buttons and buttonholes in matched and unbuttoned relation, comprising an elongated strip of flexible material insertable through the buttonhole and provided with an opening for adapting one end of the strip for forked engagement with the button, the remainder of the strip serving as a means for supporting engagement with the fold of the adjacent collar.

3. A garment accessory comprising a device insertable through registered buttonholes at the collar ends of the garment for holding said buttonholes in matched relation and provided with means for supporting engagement with the folds of the meeting edges of the collar.

4. An accessory device for holding garment buttons and buttonholes in matched and unbuttoned relation and comprising a fork portion insertable through the button hole into forked engagement with the button, and comprising an elongated extension for convenient manual engagement and provided with a shoulder portion for retaining engagement with the corresponding buttonhole, said extension being of flexible material adapted to be conformed into supporting engagement with the fold of an adjacent collar.

5. An accessory device for holding garment buttons and buttonholes in matched and unbuttoned relation and comprising means insertable through the buttonhole into forked engagement with the button, means comprising an elongated extension for convenient manual engagement and provided with a shoulder portion for retaining engagement with the corresponding buttonhole, said device being of flexible material for adapting said extension to be conformed into supporting engagement with the fold of an adjacent collar, and means forming part of the device for supporting engagement with another portion of the collar fold.

6. An accessory device for garment buttonholes, comprising an elongated strip of flexible material having tapered ends and provided with an elongated opening therein, of greater width than said ends for accommodating either end of said strip within the corresponding end of said opening, and

thereby forming a button-structure with relation 5 to the buttonhole.

JAMES W. STEELE. 

